Sale eye new Sheridan deal

SALE Sharks are ready to open talks with World Cup hero Andrew Sheridan about a lucrative new contract. The England prop forward, who has become the talk of the tournament after his man-of-the-match performance in England's quarter-final win over Australia, is in the last year of his current deal at Sale.

SALE Sharks are ready to open talks with World Cup hero Andrew Sheridan about a lucrative new contract.

The England prop forward, who has become the talk of the tournament after his man-of-the-match performance in England's quarter-final win over Australia, is in the last year of his current deal at Sale.

And his barn-storming displays while on World Cup duty in France are likely to attract a host of prospective suitors who want to entice him away from Edgeley Park

But Sale coach Kingsley Jones revealed the club's immediate priority, once the World Cup is over, will be to try to hammer out agreement on a new deal with the 28-year-old which would make him one of Sale's top earners.

"We've got our eye firmly fixed on Andrew's contract situation and we need to speak to him. The reason we haven't spoken so far is that it has been the wrong time," said Jones.

"Since May, he's been focusing on the World Cup with England. However, I've been speaking to him twice a week since he's been in France and we've got a very good relationship with him.

"Given the impact he's had in France, I've no doubt that there'll be a lot of people out there looking to offer him money. We've obviously got to try and match the sums that will be out there.

"If we can get close to what Andrew wants then I'm sure he'll stay with Sale Sharks. He's happy here, his wife is happy here, we all love him here and everybody, the staff, the players and the fans have got so much respect for him.

"So we'll be doing all we can to keep him. He's an important part of where we are, where we have come from and we want him here for the long term."